Cricket 1885

No. 90- VOL. IV. Registered (or Transmission Abroad* THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1885. PRICE 2d GEORGE G IBBON S H E A R N E . I t would not be difficult to adduce numerous instances to show that aptitude for cricket is hereditary. It would be easy enough, too, to prove that exceptional talent leading to the attainment of the highest honours pos­ sible in connection with our national game permeates whole families. The name of Hearne has been honourably associated with cricket now for over half- a-century. George Gibbons Hearne is, indeed, the head of a third generation of cricketers. His father George, and uncle Tom Hearne, the well-known Middlesex professional, who has for the last thirteen years officiated as Captain of the ground bowlers at Lord’s, were themselves sons of a good country player (the landlord of the White Hart Inn), well known at ChalfontSt. Peter’s, where his two children just named were born. Though originally identified with Buckinghamshire, the two brothers both in time migrated to Ealing, and it was there that G. G. Hearne, the first of. the three brothers who have done such good service for Kent of late, was born on July 7, 1855. His father’s appointment to take charge of the excel­ lent ground, belonging to Mr. John Walker, at Southgate, necessitated the removal of the family to that district. This change occurred in 1867, so that G. G.Hearnewas only eleven years oldwhen he first came under the notice of the great brotherhood of cricketers who have held court in Southgate for the last four deoades. Tho form he showed at a very early age makes it the more difficult to understand how so promising a’youngster could have been overlooked by the directorate of the Middlesex 0 ounty Club. There is proof, at least as far back as 1873, that there was ;in h;m the making of a good cricketer. Though then only sixteen he played a very fine innings of 78 riot out, for Sixteen Yourg Players of Middlesex against Eleven of the County, in a match at Page’s Ground, Hol­ loway, for the benefit of Abel Kidd. Nor was this his only noteworthy performance, as he was also credited with another not out score of over seventy, carrying out his bat for 73 for South­ gate against Winchmore Hill, in the same year. Mr. John Walker’s resolve, just about this period, to discontinue cricket at Southgate, left George Hearne the elder without employment. His ability as a ground-keeper, though, had been fully proved, and an offer to take charge of an enclosure just secured by the Private Banks Club, at Catford Bridge, caused him to transfer his residence to Kent. His association with the Private Banks Club soon brought his son promi­ nently before the notice of the Kentish authori­ ties. and from this commenced a connection which has been very beneficial for Kent cricket. Though born in Middlesex he became qualified to play for Kent by residence in 1875, and his identi­ fication with that county was soon assured. His first appearance, in the Colts’ match, played at Catford Bridge on May 4 and 5, too, was no means unpromising, and, indeed,his all-roundform was superiorto that of any of the other fifteen youngsters who opposed the County Eleven. His bowling,inparticular,wa8highly thought of, and he was soon afforded the oppor­ tunity of a better trial, being selected to represent Kent against Derbyshire, at Derby, on June 21, 1875. Though, in his first two matches, he did little, the third gave him a really good open­ ing, and his performance against Lanca­ shire, at Old Trafford, where he took eight wickets, three with successive balls, at a cost of only 46 runs, fairly established his reputation. The follow­ ing season, during which he was engaged at Prince’s, confirmed his position in county cricket. His bowling was at­ tended with considerable,success, but, in addition, he showed more than once great promise with the bat, as ono innings of his, 57 not out, against M.C.C. at Canterbury, fully proved. His inclusion among the ground bowlers at Lord’s in 1877 gave him fresh oppor­ tunities for practice, and his perform­ ances during that season, both with bat and ball, were most creditable. His biwling for Kent proved very effective, and the summary of the season showed that he had in all taken 105 wickets at an average of under 12 runs. In batting, too, on several occasions he showed up fairly well for M.C.C., notably at the end of the summer at Cambridge, where he carried his bat through the innings against the LoDg Vacation Club, scoring 121 out of a total of 295. Ih e season of 1877, too, witnessed his first appearance for the South against the North and though unsuccessful on this occasion at Prince’s, bis inclusion in the Southern eleven was fully justified. He waB the ODly member